SIDE QUESTS

[beleos]

SIDE QUESTS

The world of Kenos has many mysteries to explore, and not all of them are directly tied to the ongoing plot of Meridian and Zenith struggling against each other to claim the Oracles. This page is for compiling what could effectively be called side content for the game, but these are all chances to explore the world of Kenos and have some unique opportunities to discover hidden lands and secrets, gain boons or treasure, or just deepen your CR! To be clear, these are all separate from Lore Quests and are posted as areas get added and/or Loremasters get ideas for quests.

Because these quests aren’t part of the overarching plot, they’re effectively “missions” that characters can choose to undertake and the exact way the mission plays out is up to you! Consider these more prompts for threads or open logs, but with a bonus of being able to receive something IC for the effort. For an example of how this might work, see here (at least until we get some side quests done). Sometimes this may be a magical item, or other times it might be a curse! Not every side quest you undertake has universally good outcomes, after all. Any quests with significant risk will be clear about that risk!

OOC, you’ll comment under a side quest to “claim” it by noting all participating characters, then once your thread/log/etc. for this mission is complete, you’ll return here to turn it in. Loremasters will then tell you the further rewards + outcomes. As a note, you can only have one active side quest per character at a time. If you decide that you don’t want to do the quest anymore, just delete your comment. If you run into an issue with completing it (such as the other party dropping), just get in touch with the mods and we’ll work it out with you.

So, without further ado, get to questing!

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Comments

EXAMPLE

[beleos]

Take Out the Competition

There's an up and coming technically-saavy newcomer to Kowloon, and that poses a threat to Arjun. Kill them, simple as that. You're free to make up any details you'd like about this NPC and control them in the thread. Getting another player involved could be because the NPC is strong and your character wants to team up, or maybe they just find the character post-murder or the like.

POTENTIAL REWARDS

Influence in Kowloon, Favor with Arjun. Accomplishing the task well may grant you a higher tech item than is easily avliable in Kenos.

POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES

Notoriety in Kowloon. Depending on how you chose to murder this newcomer, the powers that be may take notice. This could lead to further opportunities or consequences down the line. All other consequences (injuries, dissipation, etc) are at player discretion.

Claiming!

[beleos]

Amos will take this quest, with Mamoru happening upon him after the murder.

Complete

[beleos]

Thread here. Including a summary is also appreciated!

[beleos]

And a sample mod response, though they won't be that lengthy. Probably.

ALENROUX

[beleos]

[beleos]

Monster Hunting

With many new Shard-Bearers present in Kenos, maybe it's possible to make Alenroux a little more hospitable. A group of 2+ characters can claim this quest, then pick from three mod-generated high level monsters to slay (which will only be pictures, its capabilities are up to you!). Their success or failure is up to the group to decide! This quest can be claimed multiple times and by multiple characters before it will be marked "Complete".

POTENTIAL REWARDS

The overall threat in Alenroux is reduced with each completion of this quest. At a certain point (that mods are tracking), Shard-Bearers will be able to establish residences here. There's a secondary point beyond this where NPCs will then be able to establish residences here. Also, you get to keep the monster corpse, if that's something you want?

POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES

All at player discretion.

Claiming!

[sterngaze]

Liem and Akua would like to hunt A Monster!!

Complete

[sterngaze]

The monster-killing portion of Liem and Akua's hunting thread has been completed! Summary is as follows:

After a couple patrols of Meridian soldiers ended up dispatched by a mysterious beast, Liem and Akua ventured out to take care of it like the hotshots they are. Liem tracked it down to a region of forest where it seemed to frequent, and Akua laid a trap to snare it so it would be easy prey. The creature fought back with a disorienting sonic scream, and after weathering some projectiles and toasting, teleported away to lurk and (metaphorically) lick its wounds. Then Liem and Akua located it, immobilized it properly, and shot it full of holes.

The plan after this point is for them to examine the body to see what monster lore they can learn from its organs and such, and then Liem intends to cut off some bits to bring them back to the Meridian outpost as proof of their hunt, and also to bring down to Kowloon to sell.

HIGHSTORM

[beleos]

[beleos]

Fields of Fantasia

The fields of purple flowers that grow outside of Highstorm are beautiful, yet people don't spend any time there. If asked, locals will explain that it's just not done and that they're a bit dangerous. But oddly, as you pass by, you're sure you hear a familiar, comforting voice enticing you to stay…

By taking this quest, your character is choosing to spend 2+ uninterrupted hours in the Fields. Loremasters will explain the effects of the flowers and their consequences once claimed. This quest can be claimed twice by different players.

POTENTIAL REWARDS

Knowledge of what the flowers are and what they're doing. The ability to be able to collect the flowers in the future and utilize them for medicinal (or otherwise) purposes, because involved characters will gain an immunity to their pollen after. These characters will be the only ones able to gain this immunity (unless this quest is offered again).

POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES

Up to dissipation, but no lasting consequences.

(frozen comment)

[beleos]

Into the Unknown

Past even the Fields of Fantasia lays The Beyond, the moonlit woodlands that surround the city of Highstorm. With the Fields acting almost like a wall to the populace, truly no one goes into the forests of the Beyond. But rumor has it that Highstorm's darkest secrets are hidden out in those shadows.

By taking this quest, your characters will be guaranteed to encounter 1 minor/moderate obstacle, 1 difficult obstacle, and will find one point of interest. Loremasters will give you each, and you can choose which order they occur in as well as the consequences.

This job can be claimed twice by different players. Groups of 2+ are recommended, but the obstacles may not be combat-oriented in nature.

POTENTIAL REWARDS

Lore tie-ins & knowledge that can include further opportunities or consequences down the line.

POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES

Discord increases and up to dissipation, but these are at player discretion.

[beleos]

Honey, I Shrunk The Shard-Bearers

Not everyone in Highstorm is nice (far from it, technically), and somehow, you've managed to annoy one of its older and more powerful residents. How you did so could be being rude or by not knowing their cultural standards (how were you supposed to know that breathing was rude?), but regardless, you've ended up cursed. Minorly. Very minorly.

For anywhere ranging from a day to a week, the character(s) that take up this quest are shrunken to a few inches in height. The Fey woman that cursed you at least informs you that there's a cure... At a magic shop on the other side of Highstorm. Good luck making it there and buying the potion on your own! You better ask some fellow Shard-Bearers to help!

POTENTIAL REWARDS

Successfully navigating to the potion shop will grant a minor magical item to the shrunken character. Apparently, this happens a lot, and though the shop owner appreciates the business, he feels like it's getting suspicious?

POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES

All at player discretion.

[beleos]

REBUILDING HIGHSTORM

After the chaos caused by the spread of the Blight leading up to the Iconoclast Oracle event (May 2023), Highstorm has some areas left in ruins by the spread of out of control tree roots and other effects (see event wrap-up post). The city now needs assistance rebuilding!

Be cautious as you work, since you may stumble across some of the strange pockets of weather, as described in the Roots section.

Please indicate which area your team plans to work in when claiming this quest.

POTENTIAL REWARDS

Favor with Zenith and a boon (a spell, magical item, or other requested object) as given by Kathova. Note, for the requested object, it must be declared when claiming this quest. Completion will also reduce the size of the ruined area as shown on Highstorm’s map, hooray!

POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES

I mean a building might fall on you? But no, all at player discretion.

[beleos]

HIGHLY CULTIVATED

As the Blight tapers off, the gardens of Highstorm now need to be rebuilt, since they had received quite a blow by the odd “disease”. The master gardeners of Greenwood Yards put out a call to come help restore the gardens to their former glory. They have a selection of rare seeds or sprouts that need to be planted, but they request pairs to do the planting. These are plants with very unique properties that require more than just water and moonlight to grow.

This quest is a CR building opportunity! When claiming this quest, you can request a plant from one of the following categories:

• Command: One character will find themselves compelled to do whatever the other tells them to do.
  
• Honesty: Characters will be unable to lie to each other.
  
• Kemonomimi/Furry: One or both characters grow some animal parts (for a limited time).
  
• No Filter: Characters will find themselves hearing each other’s thoughts.
  
• The [Redacted] Option 😳: Some variation of sex pollen/aphro. I know what the people want.
  
• Your Choice: Have an idea not listed here? You can also request something specific! Just let me know what general vibe you want to generate the plant description properly.

When signing up for a quest, just pick your preferred category to get a full description of the plant and its properties.

POTENTIAL REWARDS

A garden plot for Zenite characters and general access to the garden for Meridian characters. They may also take a cutting of their plant to decorate their home.

POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES

All at player discretion.

KOWLOON

[beleos]

[beleos]

обмен

Is there a mystery in Kenos you'd like answered? If there's anyone that knows it, it's definitely the proprietor of Obmen, Kenos's very own information broker. Information doesn't come cheap, but depending on what you want to know, they may have a job for you to pay your way instead...

Or, OOC, if there's sometimes that a character is looking into and they're willing to do some (perhaps morally dubious) work, they'll receive an answer as their reward. The owner of Obmen will be straightforward if they don't have an answer to your question. When signing up for this quest, include your question as a part of claiming this, and Loremasters will respond with a more customized side quest to reflect the "price" of the information. Whether they choose to take it or not is up to the character and will have no consequences if refused.

This quest can be claimed multiple times and can be repeated.

POTENTIAL REWARDS

Information.

POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES

Depending on the information, the jobs that are given out could be very dangerous. Consequences for high-level missions can include dissipation or permanent changes to the character (physical or mental). This will be noted in the specific side quest.

[beleos]

Tap the Sap

Arjun will hand over a glass jar and say that he'd like this amount of sap from Meridian or Zenith's Tree of Life. OOC, the volume is irrelevant, but it's significant enough that it would take a bit of time or multiple visits to fill up. Note: the Trees of both cities are considered sacred and trying to steal the sap from them would be a serious crime. Anyone who takes this quest will need to be clever to avoid being caught.

This quest is avaliable in Meridian or Zenith flavors (indicate which one you're claiming) and can only be completed once each. When claiming, please include a general outline of the characters' plan for the Loremaster to determine their success (this will not be RNG, this will be our judgement of whether it's a good/effective plan or not)!

POTENTIAL REWARDS

Influence in Kowloon, Favor with Arjun. Accomplishing the task well may grant each participant that directly assists with the sap heist with a higher tech item of your choice than is easily avaliable in Kenos.

POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES

Dependent on the characters' Faction. Stealing from your own Faction's tree will increase your character's Discord by one level regardless of whether you get caught or not. Similarly, stealing from the opposite Faction's tree will decrease your Discord by one level. Weird!

If caught, characters will be punished by the faction they're attempting to steal from. This will mean a moderate consequence that you'll be able to select from a list. These can range from temporary effects (lasting ~1 month) to more permanent ones, but you'll get to pick which one you'd like.

[beleos]

RULEBREAKER

Ryad is an area in Kowloon that only the bravest souls travel, because it’s an area where crime simply isn’t investigated. The district is overseen by Yura, who “created” it for the purposes of allowing those with taboo hungers or needs to be free. However, it’s a strict rule that these people only be allowed to do so within Ryad. And someone’s broken the rules.

Yura will commission a group of characters (no more than three) to hunt down a Shard-Bearer. The Shard-Bearer can be incapacitated, but Yura personally recommends dissipation since he only wants their Shard. After all, he will be publicly executing them by crushing it. Details about the NPC Shard-Bearer and their capabilities will be provided to the group upon claiming this quest. This Shard-Bearer will be free for the group to control.

This quest can be claimed by two groups.

POTENTIAL REWARDS

General pre-game timeline Shard-Bearer lore. Favor with Yura and in Kowloon. Each character will be given a gold pin that allows them free, safe passage through Ryad. However, Yura will definitely judge if you’re a decently powerful non-human and you wear it.

POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES

All at player discretion.

SPRINGSTAR

[beleos]

[beleos]

A World of Starlight

Sitting at the center of Psychagogía is a large, domed enclosure; its location remains static, but stepping inside of the shimmering, bubble-like dome littered with stars transports you to a recreation of someone’s homeland. The offerings change by twice a month (every month OOC), so why not offer your own home? Maybe it would be nice to visit.

Each character is able to submit their world once throughout the course of the game. This allows you, the player, to take control of Starlight Park for the month and offer it as a setting/open log/etc. As a note, while things inside Starlight Park are perfectly real, nothing created inside can be taken outside. It'll simply dissipate in your hands as the magic fades.

This quest can only be claimed by one character per OOC month.

POTENTIAL REWARDS

For one OOC month, you decide what world Starlight Park is showing.

POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES

None.

(frozen comment)

[beleos]

Shining Light

Chaos erupts in Springstar's Viomichanikós District as early in the month (OOC, February) an individual starts to tear through one of the factories of Springstar on a rampage. A person with grotesquely bulging muscles and purple-tinted veins is rampaging through the factories as if on a mission, though they aren't capable of speech while they're in a berserker mode. This receipient of Shimmer down in Kowloon made it topside and is cutting a swathe of destruction through the district whether property destruction or outright murder. They need to be stopped.

This quest can be accepted by one group of two or more characters and is considered a moderate to high level threat (but is in y'all's hands to control!). As an OOC note, this NPC is under the influence of Shimmer, which some characters may know is associated with Silco, but this NPC will not (or cannot—this is intentionally vague) identify him as the source.

POTENTIAL REWARDS

A reward from the thankful workers of the district. They'll give participating characters a choice of magical tools and/or weapons to choose from as thanks for stopping the rampage.

POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES

All at player discretion.

[beleos]

REBUILDING SPRINGSTAR

After the chaos caused by the spread of the Blight leading up to the Iconoclast Oracle event (May 2023), Springstar has some areas left in ruins by the spread of out of control tree roots and other effects (see event wrap-up post). The city now needs assistance rebuilding!

Be cautious as you work, since you may stumble across some of the strange pockets of weather, as described in the Roots section.

Please indicate which area your team plans to work in when claiming this quest.

POTENTIAL REWARDS

Favor with Meridian and a boon (a spell, magical item, or other requested object) as given by Cetina. Note, for the requested object, it must be declared when claiming this quest. Completion will also reduce the size of the ruined area as shown on Springstar’s map, hooray!

POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES

I mean a building might fall on you? But no, all at player discretion.

[beleos]

OTTER DEFENSE (?) SQUAD

Mr. Tibbs, a very naughty otter that caused the Blight, is now frozen as a statue in front of a restaurant in Springstar (see last note in the post). However, is this the fate he deserves? Maybe you can take it into your own hands instead…

This quest is a chance for a small group of characters to take Mr. Tibbs’s final fate into their hands personally. This can go one of two ways in saving Mr. Tibbs with a Blight cure or killing Mr. Tibbs however you please.

While this quest can only be claimed once, we encourage players to make this into a plotting opportunity where perhaps a group of otter assassins is confronted by someone who wants to protect him, as an example. Mr. Tibb’s fate can be something the group agrees on before threading or it can be something organically discovered through threading.

POTENTIAL REWARDS

Highly dependent on Mr. Tibbs’s fate!

POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES

I think regardless of which one is picked, characters are going to be mad at you. Otherwise, all at player discretion.

WORLD'S EDGE

[beleos]

[beleos]

STAFFING ISSUE

One of the characters in the group will receive a simple, hand-written note:

The “staff” at World’s Edge are a bit more than that. Kill or kidnap one of them. I only need what’s in their chest. Bring that to Kowloon and I’ll consider it good will for a chat.

- A

Kian’s castle is generally not open to the public at this point, so it will need to be infiltrated without raising the alarm of the workers (or Kian himself). Or, if they do, make a quick escape! It’s heist time, baby.

Some things to note about the staff for threading purposes:

• They are not alive! They are animated by a snowglobe like marble that’s embedded in their chests. It’s Shard-adjacent, but also distinctly different and doesn’t carry any sensation that a normal Shard would.
  
• Looking into these marbles gives a glimpse of a life that was once lived when World’s Edge seemed to be more populated and vibrant. You’re free to make up these details.
  
• While each person has a unique appearance, they all share golden eyes that are the exact same shade as Kian’s.
  
• For further details about Kian, please get in contact with Archer, since Kian is not a NPC the Loremasters control!

This quest can only be claimed once, with a maximum group size of three characters. Claiming this quest should include a general summary of how the group plans to accomplish this to help determine the overall success!

POTENTIAL REWARDS

A thread with Aetós for the “main” claimant of this quest. If others in the group are also aware that this is for Aetós, they can receive a thread as well. Just depends on how honest the leader is about what this is for!

POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES

If the group completely fails, a permanent consequence from Kian as well as being banned from World’s Edge forevermore. Otherwise, consequences can range from mild to moderate and depend on how good their plan is!